Map legend: - Region according to the TDWG standard, not a precise distribution map.

NOTE: TDWG regions are generated automatically from the text in the distribution field and not in every cases it works well. We are working on it.

Reproduction

Types

Holotype: MNHN 1919.0137 (adult female). Collected by Mr. Krempf. We describe this new species solely on the basis of the holotype.

Comment

Diagnosis. –A species of the genus Oligodon, characterized by (1) 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody, 15 before vent; (2) 12 maxillary teeth, the last two strongly enlarged; (3) anal plate single; (4) a high number of ventral scales, reaching at least 175; (5) head scalation complete, without presubocular; (7) 8 supralabials; (8) a strong dorsal pattern, with body scales dark greyish-brown strongly edged with black producing a distinct reticulate pattern, a broad, rusty-brown vertebral stripe edged on each side with a broad continuous black stripe; (9) no dorsolateral stripes; (10) only 4 major blotches on upper head surface: one frontal, one large, subrectangular blotch on each parietal, and an inverted U-shaped nuchal marking across the neck; and (11) a largely dark brown venter. This species can be recognized by the combination of the conspicuous vertebral and paravertebral stripes, the overall dark colour, 17 dorsal scale rows and a high number of ventrals. Comparisons with other species of the taeniatus-group appear below in the Discussion [DAVID et al. 2008].

Etymology

DAVID et al. (2008) named this species in honour of the French naval physician, traveller, ethnographer and naturalist Dr. (Jean Claude) Albert Morice (28 May 1848–18 October 1877). He was on duty in Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, during two stays in 1872–1874 and 1875–1877. Morice wrote a general account on his travels in Cochinchina, at present southern Vietnam, with a strong emphasis on the people and the area’s wildlife (Morice, 1875; reprinted and translated in 1997), various medical papers, and published the first detailed memoir on the fauna of this region (Morice, 1875).

References

David, P.; Vogel, G. & van Rooijen, J. 2008. A revision of the Oligodon taeniatus (Günther, 1861) group (Squamata: Colubridae) , with the description of three new species from the Indochinese Region. Zootaxa 1965: 1–49 - get paper here